📖 Biblical Definition
Worldliness is the disposition or pattern of being shaped by the present evil age rather than the kingdom. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 Jn 2:15). The world's lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life (1 Jn 2:16) are the three classic categories. Friendship with the world is enmity with God (Jas 4:4).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Being shaped by the present evil age rather than the kingdom; lust of flesh, eyes, pride of life.
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1 John 2:15-17 is the locus classicus. James 4:4 sharpens: whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Romans 12:2: be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.
📖 Key Scripture
1 John 2:15 — "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world."
1 John 2:16 — "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."
Romans 12:2 — "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often blurs the world's line; Scripture treats the line as bright and the friendship-with-world as enmity-with-God.
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The household's test: do my desires, my entertainments, my measures of success, my anxieties match the kingdom or the world? Renewing of mind is the daily project; conformity is the default.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek kosmos (world, world-system).
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Greek kosmos — world, world-system; in 1 John used pejoratively for the fallen world-order.
Usage
"Friendship with the world is enmity with God."
"Lust of flesh, lust of eyes, pride of life."
"Be not conformed; be transformed."